Vitamin C Aids Pregnancy

Published Online: Friday, July 1, 2005

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Daily vitamin C supplements
can reduce the risk of rupture of
the membranes that enclose the
fetus and amniotic fluid, according
to the results of a study from
the National Institute of Perinatology
in Mexico City. Investigators
pursued the results of previous
studies, which had been
unable to determine whether the
addition of vitamin C during pregnancy
would help reduce the risk
of premature rupture of membranes
(PROM). PROM is considered
to be responsible for at
least 40% of all cases of preterm
labor.

The researchers randomly assigned
120 pregnant women to
take 100 mg of vitamin C or an
inactive placebo daily, starting at
the 20th week of gestation.
Among the 109 women who
completed the study, vitamin C
levels increased in the supplement
group and decreased in the
placebo group. PROM occurred
in only 4 of 52 pregnancies (8%)
in the vitamin C group, compared
with 14 of 57 pregnancies (25%)
among the placebo group. The
investigators concluded, however,
that vitamin C supplements
may be important to maintaining
a pregnancy to term.